Suitcase



Jan. 24, 1928. 1,657,269

H. 1.. MOORE SUITCASE Filed April 419. 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jan. 24, 1928.

l,fi57,269 H. L. MQORE SUITCASE Filed April 19. 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Jan. 24, 1928.

UNITED STATES 1,657,269 PATENT OFFICE.

HARVIE Lnn moons, or rn'rnnsiauno, VIRGINIA.

SUITCASE.

Application flled April 19, 1927. Serial No. 184,976.

This invent-ion relates to suitcases and the like, one of the objects being to provide a structure of this character reinforced by the use of metal. bands of peculiar construction 6 extending around the outer surface of the suitcase, means being combined with these reinforcing elements whereby the hinges used for connecting the body and cover of the case will be protected.

A further object is to provide exterior reinforcing means which will not be of objectionable appearance nor add to any considerable extent to the cost of production.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed may be made within the scope of what is claimed, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings, the preferred form of the invention has been shown.

In said drawings,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the suitcase constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is av top plan view thereof.

Figure 3 is a vertical longitudinal section. Figure 1 is a section on line 4-4, Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a section on line 5--5, Fig

ure3.

Figure 6 is a section on line 66, Figure 3.

Figure 7 is an enlarged transverse section through a portion of one of the reinforcing bands, the terminal cap used in connection therewith being shown in elevation.

Figure 8 is an elevation of one of the terminal caps.

Referring to the figures by characters of reference 1 designates the body of the suitcase and 2 designates the cover thereof. These can be formed of leather, as ordinarily, the corners being suitably reinforced by metal pieces indicated at 3. The cover and body are connected by hinges 4 which project outwardly beyond the surface of the bottom of the suitcase. The top of the body 1 has the usual handle 5, looks 6, and clips 7 whereby the same can be conveniently carried and held securely in closed position.

For the purpose of reinforcing the suitcase and at the same time adding to its attractiveness, there are provided external bands 8 of metal. These bands are arranged in pairs. One band of each pair is extended transversely across the broad side of the body 1 as shown at 9 and has terminal portions 10, extending transversely along the top and bottom. of this body portion. The free ends of the terminal portions 10 are seated within metal caps 11 held to the body 1 by rivets 12 or the like and providing a neat finish for the ends of the band as well as serving to hold said ends firmly to the body. The other band 13 of each pair is extended transversely across the broad side of the cover 2 and has its end portion 14 extended transversely across the top and bottom of the cover, the terminals of these end portions also being housed within finishing caps held to the cover by rivets 16 or the like. For the purpose of stiifening the bands the same are rolled longitudinally so that each band is transversely bowed along the central portion thereof as shown par- 30 tic-ularly at 16, leaving side flanges 17 extending throughout the length of the bands. The bands may be secured at desired intervals to the suitcase by means of rivets 18.

The terminal caps 11 and 15 are located close to the meeting edges of the body 1 and cover 2. These caps are of such size that, when the suitcase is standing with its hinges lowermost, said hinges will be held off of the supporting surface by the capsll and 15 adjac'ent thereto. This will be apparent by referring particularly to Figure 6.

By constructing the device as described the same will be rendered very strong capable of holding excessive loads. This is particularly true in view of the fact that the reinforcing means are located outside of the walls so as to serve as a means for binding the walls together. Consequently there is no danger of the reinforcing means being I pulled away from the walls as would be the case should they be located between thicknesses of the walls or wholly within the case.

What is claimed is:

1. A suitcase including a body and a cover 108 hingedly connected, and metal reinforcing bands secured to the outer faces of the body and cover respectively, said bands being arranged in pairs, the end portions of the bands of each pair being disposed in aline- 1 ment when the suitcase is closed, and terminal caps upon the ends of the bands at the top and bottom of the body wand cover; those caps at the bottomeof the body andvoover projecting outwardly beyond the hinges to.

constitute means forholdillg. the hingesout of contact with the supporting surface on which the case may be mounted.

2. A suitcase including a body and a cover, hinges connectinguthersame at thefihob tom, reinforcing metal bands upon the outer -fa'cesiot tthc zbodg aml'cover. the end portions otfthe band JCITYlIl'lB cowerrbeingadapted to :alineawith the iend povtions of the band upon thbmbodyewhen the suitcase is xolosed, each hand being bowed transversely longitudinally alongthe=oente1= rth'ereoflto space said center .portion from the surface of the body or cover, ,and nterminalv. caps secured to the body and'cover and housing the ends of the hand, those caps upon the bottom of the body and cover projecting outwardly beyond the line ofiitheuhingtea :thereby to engage a supporting surface and hold the hmges out of contact therewith: in In rtestimonythnt =1 :clnim vthe foregoingras any own; I have hereto: affixed my signature.

HABVIE LEE 

